Dad of Divas' Reviews: Book Review - Sticks 'n Stones 'n Dinosaur Bones

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Book Review - Sticks 'n Stones 'n Dinosaur Bones

Sticks 'n Stones 'n Dinosaur Bones
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About the Book
In Sticks ‘n Stones ‘n Dinosaur Bones, the debut title in the new series of unhinged rhyming history and science books by popular illustrator Ted Enik, dinosaurs and Dr. Seuss come together in what has been called a "delirious and delightful American Tall Tale."

This first book in Enik’s new series is a ripping yarn – full of adventure and deceit – that brings to life the best-known public spat in all of paleontology: the bitter rivalry between Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh that became known as "The Bone Wars."

Lively and witty rhymes plus beautiful ("and beautifully demented," says Enik) illustrations by G. F. Newland reveal how the paleontologists’ infamous rivalry began and how their mutual obsession with outdoing and ruining one another progressed.

The following excerpt from Sticks ‘n Stones ‘n Dinosaur Bones reveals Enik’s playful approach to the very serious business of revenge:

Before very long, nearly quick as a cough,
These Bone-Hunters’ efforts began to pay off!

"Well, son-of-a-gun!" boasted Marsh to his men,
"This Dinosaur Egg would impress any hen!"

"Well, don’t that beat everything!" Dr. Cope crowed,
"A big pair of Piggy-Toe Bones in the road!"

As their digging went-on and they found more and more,
They also found out they were both keeping score.

As Sticks ‘n Stones ‘n Dinosaur Bones reveals, the two men went far beyond merely keeping score. These less-than-ethical scientists resorted to lying, stealing, blackmail, and even destroying fossils in order to advance their own reputations and careers. Nonetheless, as the book acknowledges:

Before they went crazy
and everything soured

Because of them
Paleontology flowered.

About the Author and Illustrator
Author/illustrator Ted Enik has worked for most of the well-known publishing houses in New York, applying his versatility to both original art as well as classic and current children's book characters. The artist for the beloved Fancy Nancy "I Can Read™" series, Enik was tapped to fill Hilary Knight’s venerable shoes by illustrating the latest Eloise hardcover, Eloise in Hollywood.

Illustrator G. F. Newland works at the School of Visual Arts, plays in a power pop band called the Thigh Highs, and is a freelance illustrator. This is his first book for children. He lives in a tiny Brooklyn apartment with an even tinier deceased cat that is really small, comparatively speaking.


My Take on the Book
This was a story that was a ton of fun to read, not only for the story itself but also for the flow and lyrical rhythm of the story itself. I did not know the story behind this, and after reading this I was quite intrigued on more of the background between these two individuals. The story was great and I found that my daughters and I had a ton of fun reading through this. One thing to keep in mind with this is it is a bit longer than most stories for kids, but the length is worth it!


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